Featured: Most Anticipated New Albums of 2021
Rob Zombie
After what has proven to be a pandemic-induced drought for new music around the holidays, we finally have some new music coming from some of the industry’s biggest names. Here are the most anticipated new albums for 2021:
Pale Waves – Who Am I? (February 12)
One of the most buzz-worthy bands of 2018 and this month’s IE cover stars is back with their highly anticipated sophomore album Who Am I? Pales Wave’s new album represents the band’s manifesto to inspire inclusivity, self-discovery, and the notion of being whoever you want to be. With singles “Change” and “She’s My Religion,” the album is expected to be filled with the same gutsy, heartbreaking honesty that made their 2018 debut, My Mind Makes Noises, so compelling. If it’s anything like their previous record, you better have a box of tissues nearby.
Architects – For Those That Wish to Exist (February 26)
U.K. metalcore band Architects are gearing up to deliver what may its most decadent offering yet. The first album since the death of founding guitarist Tom Steele, the new release is also shaping up to be their most ambitious to date. The band goes bigger and better with tighter melodies, harder riffs, and a central concept that explores the struggle of maintaining hope in a world that’s falling apart. Sounds eerily like 2020. If the rest of the album is as gripping as singles “Animals” and “Black Lungs,” then this should be their best release by far.
Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (March 12)
Rob Zombie has been sitting on this album for a while, but his latest movie, 3 From Hell and the pandemic, delayed its release. Now he’s ready to unleash his seventh album, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, his first in five years. Though we’ve only heard lead single “Triumphant of the King Freak,” its hard-driving energy and irresistible groove is enough to tell us it’s going to be a funky time filled with intense music, hard riffs, and plenty of psychedelic supernatural happenings. Guitarist John 5 described the album as Zombie’s “Sgt. Pepper” and went on to say it’s “the best Zombie record and White Zombie record.” So yeah, our expectations are pretty high with this one.
Evanescence – The Bitter Truth (March 26)
Evanescence’s return has been a long time in the making. Though they’ve released a new live album, box set, and a compilation record, it’s been nearly 10 years since they put out their last record of new material, 2011’s self-titled. Last year, they announced their long-awaited follow-up, The Bitter Truth. They’ve been teasing the record with various single releases throughout 2020. Now, the wait is almost over. Evanescence’s highly anticipated fifth album arrives in March. The singles have been stellar so far, and we can’t wait to hear the rest of the album finally.
Royal Blood – Typhoons (April 30)
It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from the Brighton rock duo, but last year they broke their silence with the new single “Trouble’s Coming.” Now, the band is preparing to release their highly anticipated third album, Typhoons. Their fourth album sees them shake things up as they embrace a dance-heavy, funk-driven rock sound. Shifting things away from their well-known gritty hard rock sound is a gutsy move but based on the singles we’ve heard so far, it’s a risk that’s going to pay off.
Janet Jackson – Black Diamond (TBA)
2020 was supposed to be Janet Jackson’s big comeback. Not only did she announce a new album, Black Diamond, the long-awaited follow up to 2015’s Unbreakable, but she also announced a new tour. Then COVID hit postponing the new album and her touring plans. Though she hasn’t shared any details since then – we haven’t even heard a new single – we’re more than ready for the comeback of Ms. Jackson. Let’s hope this is the year it happens.
The Cure – TBA
Robert Smith’s been dangling new Cure albums in front of fans’ hungry faces since he first mentioned it in a 2019 interview. When no new material surfaced in 2019, fans hoped 2020 would bring the next Cure record. It’s now 2021, and we’re still waiting. Though Smith hasn’t mentioned when the album would be done, we’re hoping this year will close the 13-year gap between Cure albums. And with it being described as “a dark and heavy record” similar to Bloodflowersand Disintegration, hopefully, it’ll be worth the wait.
AFI – TBA
Punk rockers AFI shocked fans on New Year’s Day by teasing the follow-up to 2017’s AFI (The Blood Album). Keeping details hush-hush, they promised new music would be coming “very soon.” “Before the year’s end, our 11th album will follow,” they said. Though the gap between the upcoming album and their last release, 2018’s The Missing Man EP, isn’t long, we’re still eager to hear new music filled with Davey Havok’s ferocious vocals, hard-driving music, and intense energy. Seeing how AFI has evolved over the years, we can’t wait to hear what exciting places their music will take us next.
Salem – TBA
Creeper’s second album, Sex, Death, & the Infinite Voidwas an emotional roller coaster for frontman Will Gould. With its release, you’d think the singer would need a well-deserved break. Instead, Gould launched horror-punk outfit Salem with Matt Reynolds. Their self-titled EP filled with high energy macabre punk love songs was a hit, with vinyl copies selling out in a week. Proving he’s the man that never sleeps, Gould already has the bands follow up nearly ready. During a Kerrang! interview, he revealed he’s been working on new Salem material and predicts the next EP will drop in early 2021. It just goes to show you never know what tricks Gould has up his sleeve.
Ministry – TBA
With all the political corruption, social injustice, and election stress of 2020, Al Jourgensen couldn’t keep quiet for long. At the height of lockdown, Ministry dropped the politically-charged single “Alert Level,” which sees the band returning to its hard as nails, gut-punching industrial roots. It’s just a taste of what’s to come as Jourgensen and crew used to quarantine to record the band’s 15thalbum. Jourgensen has never shied away from loudly expressing his opinion, so we can’t wait to hear what he has to say about the trash fire that was 2020.
-Ashley Perez Hollingsworth
Category: Featured
